All articles of culture in Sabah

05Aug

Rimmer’s hope for Arts Centre takes shape

TAMPARULI: Efforts to promote this sub-district into a tourist destination with diverse attractions have been further boosted with the opening of the Tamparuli Living Heritage and Arts Centre. Located at a house formerly used by renowned artist Tina Rimmer just before the famed Tamparuli bridge, the centre displays works by local artists and craftsmen not just from the sub-district but also from nearby districts. Officiating at the soft launch of the centre, Sabah Tourism Board (STB) chairman Datuk Joniston Bangkuai said more visitors are expected to come to Tamparuli with the availability of new tourism products. Noting that the centre is managed by the Tamparuli Living Arts and Heritage Association (TLAHA), he said the setting up of the centre augurs well with STB's effort to turn tourism as a viable means to economically empower the local community, especially those from the rural areas. Joniston, who is assemblyman of nearby Kiulu, added that the government has embarked on a concerted effort to promote rural tourism to take advantage of the State's natural beauty and unspoilt environment. "STB has set up a special unit called Tourism Product Division which, among others, is tasked to oversee rural tourism development," he said. Among the key functions of the division is to identify new tourism products, especially in the rural areas, by working closely with the District Tourism Action Committees. "STB has been working closely with the District Tourism Action Committees to create awareness among the local community on how tourism could become an alternative source of income besides agriculture," Joniston said. TLAHA chairman Paulus Gani said the centre will display unique local paintings and handicrafts produced by local natives from as far as Ranau. He is optimistic that the centre will emerge as a prime tourist attraction as it is located at a strategic location synonymous to many as the building once occupied by Rimmer, who is well known for her native-inspired paintings. The pre-launch of the centre coincided with Rimmer's 99th birthday. Rimmer, who had always wanted the place to be turned into an art centre, was however unable to attend the event due to health and age reasons. Also present were Sabah Museum Director Sintiong Gelet and several local artists and craftsmen. Source: Daily Express
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05Aug

UMS campus as tourism draw

Kota Kinabalu: Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) has the potential to turn its campus into a lucrative tourism product, according to Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Seri Masidi Manjun. Towards this end he pledged his Ministry's commitment to help and support UMS' effort to market its campus as a tourist destination. "I think there are not many universities that turn their campuses into tourism products. "UMS' campus is the biggest and the most beautiful in Malaysia or even in Asia. And there are many tourists who are fascinated with the campus which was built beautifully. "And now, UMS is not only an academic excellence centre but also a tourism product," he said during the opening of the UMS-EcoCampus Visitor Information Centre (UMS-EVIC), on Wednesday. He also said, the varsity should leverage on its advantages to further boost its marketability. "UMS is lucky as it has a land area of 1,000 acres. It is also located in one of the most beautiful parts of Kota Kinabalu… it has a sea view, hillside and it is only a 10-minute drive from the city centre." The percentage of developed area in the campus is also little, compared to the untouched areas, Masidi said. "This is definitely an attraction for tourists, especially those who don't have much time to spare to visit places out of the city… they can experience Sabah's nature's beauty right here in Kota Kinabalu." As Sabah's current tourism industry is witnessing a spike, Masidi proposed that UMS get more creative by introducing value-added products that can attract more visitors. "As more people visit the city, they need to go somewhere, and the best way to do is by creating a product, perhaps within the city itself. "And UMS is the best place for it. So it is important to have the creativity to cater to short-term visitors so that they too can enjoy the whole of Sabah. "You can hike on the hills in the campus and along the way, you can see a natural exhibition with a variety of trees. As you climb and trail down the hill, you can gain more knowledge as well," he said. Aside from that, Masidi also recommended UMS offer birdwatching packages as the hobby is increasingly popular with the global value of the birdwatching sector being about US$4 billion per year. "And perhaps UMS can work together with a company to set up a hotel in the campus which can also be utilised as a practical training centre. "UMS has a magnificent sea view… and we lack five-star hotels in the city. "We need to expand the horizon of our mind and think of something that can generate income for the university." The UMS-EVIC is a one-stop centre for UMS EcoCampus Tourism to house an information counter for centralised ticketing system and payment, briefing hall for the visitors, souvenir shop and a refreshment outlet. UMS EcoCampus Tourism involves tourism activities within the compound of UMS consisting of five packages or products – gallery and museum tour, nature delight tour, architecture heritage tour, sunset tour and nature education camp. Also present were UMS Vice-Chancellor Prof Datuk Dr Mohd Harun Abdullah and Sabah Tourism Board General Manager Gordon Yapp. Source: Daily Experss
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05Aug

Launching of UMS Eco Campus Tourism Information Centre

UMS Eco Campus Tourism Information Centre YB Datuk Seri Panglima Masidi Manjun launched the UMS Eco Campus Tourism Information Centre on August 3, 2016. The purpose of the information centre is to give information to visitors about the attractions within the campus. YB Datuk Seri Panglima Masidi Manjun telah melancarkan Pusat Informasi Pengunjung UMS Eco-Campus pada 3 Ogos 2016. Pusat informarsi ini bertujuan untuk memberikan penerangan kepada tarikan-tarikan yang terdapat di universiti berkenaan kepada pengunjung-pengunjung yang datang berkunjung di Universiti tersebut.
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05Aug

High Tea with students of Sutton Valence Cadet School

Sutton Valence Cadet School, YB Datuk Seri Panglima Masidi Manjun together with 27 students and 4 teachers of Sutton Valence Cadet School, United Kingdom during High Tea at Sutera Harbour Resort on August 4, 2016. These students visited Sabah to docommunity work and also to do the Sandakan Death March track. YB Datuk Seri Panglima Masidi Manjun meluangkan masa bersama-sama dengan 27 pelajar dan 4 guru dari Sutton Valence Cadet School, United Kingdom dalam suatu majlis 'High Tea' yang diadakan di Sutera Harbour Resort pada 4 Ogos 2016. Rombongan tersebut telah melawat negeri ini untuk kerja-kerja komuniti dan juga melakukan melalui trek 'Sandakan Death March' .
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02Aug

Here to experience the Death March

Kota Kinabalu: Twenty-seven UK Sutton Valence School (SVS) Combined Cadet Force (CCF) including seven girls are here to mount a five-day 63km Death March trek through its forested section from Bauto to Muruk, Ranau, which ends July 30. On arrival at Muruk on July 30, the group will proceed to the Kundasang War Memorial for a small ceremony, including wreath-laying and reading out prisoners of war names. Major John Tulloch, a retired Jungle Warfare Instructor and brain child behind this first ever UK CCF group to walk part of the 1945 Death March track, will be laying a wreath on behalf of his former Royal Artillery Regiment, then proceed to visit the scenic Last Camp at Kg Kenipir in the Ranau hinterland. Tulloch founded the British Salute in September 2011. Before this, few Britons ever returned to remember or find meaning in the Sandakan Death March story even though all 641 British POWs sent to Sandakan were wiped out. But on a private holiday trip to Sandakan in the late 90s, Tulloch said he was shocked by the story and initiated the British Salute to do Britain's part in finding meaning to the tragic event. But when he mounted a research on the Roll of Honour, he discovered 14 of the British POWs came from Kent – the county where Sutton Valance School is located. That was the discovery that sparked the idea that the Death March trek couldn't be more relevant for SVS which had taken their Junior Training Corps to the Brunei jungles for more than a decade. Meanwhile, immediately after visiting the Last Camp on July 30, the group will head for an interior Tenom farm stay and visit a Murut rock carving site on July 31 before spending three days on community service project to repair a church at Kg Kalibatangan. For Rest and Recreation before flying home on Aug 8, they will wind down at Berringis, said Tham Yau Kong, of TYK Adventure Tour. Before Sabah, the group underwent 12 days of jungle training in Brunei under the British Garrison, including firing weapons, navigation, survival in the jungle, basic patrolling and camp attacks, under Ma PreAle, a former Gurkha Major from 36 Eng Regiment. Major Glen Millbery, who only recently assumed charge of the CCF as Contingent Commander, is also here. According to Major Tulloh, Sutton Valence School is one of the oldest private schools in the UK founded in the late 1500s but started a compulsory Officer Training Corps in 1914, in the context of WW1. On the Death March track, they will start a six-hour or 8km walk in Bauto on July 26, 20km walk from Maliau to Koporon the following day, followed by a 15km walk from Koporon to Taviu Hillon on July 28, then transferred by road to Sabah Tea, Nabutan for an overnight stay, before walking 20km from Nabutan to Muruk on July 29. The whole distance involved in 145km but because of time constraint, the cadets will walk only 73km, the rest by vehicular transfer. Source: Daily Express
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